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NOVEMBER 1993 ISSUE 14 ARGET AUPO A Newsletter for Hunters and Anglers in the Tongariro / Taupo Conservancy CONSERVATION TE PAPA ATAWHAI SPORTING LIFE 86 FISHING OUTFITTERS The complete Fly F1sh1ng Shop, specialising in outfitting you for the Tongariro and Taupo lakes and rivers. Extensive knowledge and practical experience of- the area assures you of the very best attention. Professional guiding services offered and arranged for all rivers and lakes in the Tongariro region. If you're coming our way. call in and chat to the team - or write - or phone us prior to your visit P.O. Box 162, Tel. (07) 386 8996 TURANGI GRAHAM WHYMAN and his professional team LAKELAND HELICOPTERS Taupo Murupara For your hunting trips into the Ureweras, Kaimanawas, Kawekas and surrounding State Forests or our popular Private Land. • Hunters ... hunt for Red Deer, Ruso Deer, Sika Deer and Pigs • Fishermen .. fish virgin waters for mighty Rainbow and Brown Trout • Campers and Family Groups .. travel right into the wilderness • Over 40 huts and unlimited camping sites to choose from • Professional guides available for all activities • Book now for the Roar • Fly in for as little as S 100 each LAKELAND HELICOPTERS Taupo Airport, R.D.2 Taupo Ph: (07) 378 4532; Murupara (07) 366 5267 ARGET AUPO A Newsletter for Hunters and Anglers in the Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy Published three times a year (March - July - November) ISSN 0114-5185 Organisations and agencies are welcome to print articles in an unaltered form from this publication, providing full acknow ledgement is given to the Department of Conservation. The printing of information in any other form requires the express permission of the Regional Conservator, Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy, Department of Conservation, Turangi. Published by Department of Conservation TONGARIRO/TAUPO REGIONAL OFFICE PRIVATE BAG, TURANGI, NEW ZEALAND TELEPHONE (07) 386 8607 FAX (07) 386 7086 NOVEMBER 1993 Printed by Rotorua Printers Limited - 1 - T()ngarir()/Taup() C()nservancy Lake Atiamuri Lake Taupo RANGATAUA Conservancy Office 0 Field Centre Office ® Conservancy Boundary Protected Areas 0 S 10 20 30 40 Kilometres - 2 - CONSERVATION TE PAPA ATAWHAJ DEAR ANGLERS AND HUNTERS, As the spring season arrives, many anglers will be reflecting on the fortunes of a winter typified by long dry spells and low, clear river flows. Many anglers struggled with these conditions and found the fishing hard. In spite of this, catch rates in the Tongariro and Tauranga-Taupo rivers are up on previous years. The size of the fish throughout the fishery is also up on previous years. The total numbers of adult trout in our surveyed spawning streams are the highest they have been since counts began in 1990. The fishery is in good heart. On the down side, concerns about poor angler behaviour, litter and fish offal, overcrowding and vehicles on walking tracks seem to have been more promi nent this winter than usual. The Department, in conjunction with the Taupo Fishery Advisory Committee, is currently looking at ways to resolve these difficulties but ultimately the solutions rest with anglers themselves. More on this later in this edition. The first deer are being seen on the clearings even though the grass is only just starting to grow. The signs look good for productive spring and summer hunting. As always, be well prepared when going into the bush and please be sure that what you are shooting at is a game animal and not another hunter. Response to our call for comment (in previous issues) on the potential use of downriggers in the Taupo fishery has been pleasing. We have received 750 written submissions to date. It is likely that a decision on whether or not to allow the use of downriggers will be made after the Christmas holiday period. This still leaves time to make your views known if you haven't already done so. We would appreciate receiving as wide a range of opinion as possible. Enjoy your sport. Rob Mclay Co-editor - 3 - FLY-IN HUNTING AND FISHING AEROPLANE AND HELICOPTER TRIPS INTO KAIMANAWA & KAWEKA RANGES & UREWERA NATIONAL PARK HUNT - Sika Deer * Red Deer FISH - Brown Trout * Rainbow Trout RAFT - Mohaka * Ngaruroro Fly by AEROPLANE to Boyd or Oamaru /---- Write to: D.OC Huts Fly by HELICOPTER to , DOC Huts / AIR CHARTER TAUPO / R.0.2, Taupo * 20 PRIVATE BLOCKS * / Phone 0-7-378 5467 Otupua - North Arm - Footy Field - Fax 0-7-378 5468 / Kakapo - Mangamingi - Ernies for more information / SPECIAL: Oamaru $ 110 return - Boyd $140 return Name / Special conditions apply Address · AIR CHARTER TAUPO Phone R.D.2 Taupo Airport HUNTING D FISHING D TRAMPING 18 Heu Heu Street TAUPO Phone/fax (07) 378 4449 - 4 - CONTENTS .•• Page 6 Your Views: Downriggers 9 Winter Hunting Summary 12 Don't Talk About It - Do It! 14 Bitz 'n' Pieces: News from around the conservancy 26 Changes in the Lower Waitahanui River 31 Something Fishy: News from the fishery 44 Licence Checks: How much effort is needed? 47 Anglers' Behaviour Must Improve 49 The Effect of Deer Population Structure on Forest Conservation and Potential Deer Harvest 59 Our Tips for Your Summer Angling 62 Manager Profile Information about illegal activities is only of use when it is passed on immediately. Please contact compliance staff: Wayne Boness, Taupe Phone 378 3885 (work) 377 0112 (home) Bryan Taylor, Turangi Phone 376 8607 (work) 386 6549 (home) Sid Puia, Turangi Phone 386 8607 (work) 386 6700 (home) or Conservancy Duty Officer Phone 386 8607 after hours. ANYTIME : 5 - YOUR VIEWS : Downriggers Over recent months we have been seeking your opinions about whether downriggers should be permitted in the Taupo fishery. The response has been excellent and we will continue to seek comment through to Christmas to give as many people as possible the opportunity for input. Below are a series of quotes taken at random from some of the responses received. They give an idea of some of the different thoughts expressed. II II How would you police the depth? This leaves the door open for ··� the unscrupulous angler to abuse the system. I believe the technology is far too weighted in favour of the angler. Surely the whole idea of fishing is actually 'holding' a rod or fishing line; using a downrigger this doesn't occur. To be able to fish at the depths talked about with mono instead of wire and lead would, to me, be marvellous. There would be no fun or excitement in using a downrigger. Come on! Be fair to the fish. The only time we use rod holders in the boat is when a cuppa is had. Any opportunity to catch and play fish on light gear is a real attraction. If downriggers were legalised, why not legalise spears? Have used downriggers in North America and in salt water fishing and found they can be quite productive at times. I am reluctant to see people fishing with rod holders or other mechanical equipment. They take the skill away from an exciting sport. A great help to the aged and arthritic. Would like to give it a go, depending on the price of the gear. - 6 - Should downrigge rs such as this one, demonstrated by Fishery Manager John Gibbs, be permitted in the Taupo fishery? Photo: Len Birch II II Trout are increasingly becoming the victims of technology and less the victims of skill. Would greatly enhance the sporting side of trout fishing. Wire lead lines are a necessary evil to enable friends and visitors to catch a Taupe fish. Not only will the trout harvest be higher but the mortality rate of released fish is too high which will result in less fish caught. I have used downriggers on Lake Superior, USA, and am con vinced their use would increase the sport and thrill of catching trout. This lead line fishing is basically boring compared with light line fishing. The first fish I caught on lead line I didn't even know it was on! I'm into increased entertainment value, especially with the licence fee at $46.00! If downriggers were legalised I would like to see wireline fishing made illegal. - 7 - " " Downriggers in my· opinion will be mostly to the advantage of the commercial fishermen and the well-off. Downriggers are not necessary. The amount of fish landed at the moment is sufficient. If introduced, I consider a maximum fishing depth of 35 metres impossible to police. The major benefits of downriggers are to 'commercial' operators who are only interested in filling clients 'bags' and their own pockets as quickly as possible. Couldn't be bothered with this bulky gear. Would like to see a further substantial improvement in fishing before the introduction of any new fishing methods. High cost and potentially high harvest will disadvantage those with modest means as against the professional 'meat hunters'. As an angler I feel that downriggers will make trolling more enjoyable and as you say the daily bag limit will ultimately restrict the total catch. The harvest of trout from Lake Taupo is surely enough at the present time. This is simply another method to get a line deep to trout which may well remain too deep for normal trolling. I think it would be great to be able to fish with light tackle all year round. Only for use by private fishermen. Not for guides/tours, etc. I like the idea of a sanctuary being provided for the fish in the deeper water. Commercial fishermen will exploit the situation to the detriment of continued good fishing on Taupo. Good for the rich - not for the average fisherman. Although I support the move, I feel that we are tending to make the catching of our great sporting fish too easy.